A spectacular sight unfolded in Mecca when a severe storm swept through the holy Muslim city and a bolt of lightning struck the iconic Clock Tower.
The moment was captured by photographer Youssef Bazas, who photographed the instant a bright bolt of lightning cut across the dark sky, with the massive building towering in the background.
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Batzas posted the video on Platform X, describing the night as “unforgettable,” with the lightning and thunder creating a spectacular scene over Mecca.
Now a bolt of lightning strikes the #Clock_Tower in Mecca pic.twitter.com/423e6pvHC9
— Astronomer Mulham Hindi (@MulhamH) August 26, 2026
Saudi astronomer Mulham Hindi also documented the storm, sharing photos and videos of the intense electrical activity. According to him, August and September are months when thunderstorms are a common occurrence in Mecca and, more generally, in western Saudi Arabia.
The bad weather also affected the area around the Grand Mosque. Footage broadcast by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) showed pilgrims and worshippers performing the Isha prayer in the rain, while the Emirate of the Makkah Region published images of lightning illuminating the city’s sky.
Standing approximately 601 meters tall, the Clock Tower is one of the most distinctive and recognizable landmarks on the Mecca skyline.
Its imposing height once again made it the star of the storm footage, with the video of the lightning quickly going viral on social media.
Source: Proto Thema
